Estudos comportamentais e taxonómicos de paravella sp, draken and haris, 1935 (hemiptera: gerromorpha: vellidae) em condiçóes de laboratório)

Abstract

The family Veliidae belongs to the order Hemiptera and are characterized by the fact that they inhabit the surface tension of water. According to Usinger (1963) in general the Veliidae inhabit various types of water bodies; streams, rivers, ponds and small water reservoirs such as on the leaves of bromeliads. Microvelia Westwood 1834 and Paravelia Breddin, 1898 (Heteroptera: Veliidae) are found in phytotelma in the neotropical region, and there are four species of Paravelia restricted to this habitat (DRAK; HUSSEY, 1954; POLHEMUS; POLHEMUS, 1991). In Brazil Paravelia is represented by two species: P. manausana (Polhemus & Polhemus, 1984), collected on Vriesia splitgerberi and in Pará on Achmea bromeliifolia (Bromeliaceae) (Polheus & Polhemus, 1991). This work aimed to identify the species of Veliidae existing in bromeliads. The collections were carried out in the rubber trees area of the Campus of the Federal Rural University of Amazonia (UFRA), in the year 2007 and 2008 in different months: November 2007, January and March 2008, because the first collection was chosen for presenting less rainy period and the following ones for presenting a greater rainfall potential, therefore, the water levels of the reservoirs were above normal providing favorable conditions for the development of the Veliidae. The collected individuals were placed in aquariums, in the laboratory they were separated by couples and observed the time of copulation, feeding and oviposition and development of nymphs in the laboratory.